Introduced with the Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2015 to establish the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support medical research and medical innovation from 1 August 2015, the bill provides for: initial funding of $1 billion from the uncommitted balance of the Health and Hospitals Fund; the establishment of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board to develop the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities; and for the MRFF to be managed by the Future Fund Board of Guardians.

to implement the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Access and Sustainability package by: applying a one-off five per cent statutory price reduction for single brand medicines; changing price disclosure arrangements for multiple-brand medicines; applying flow-on price disclosure reductions from component drugs to multiple-brand combination medicines; changing membership arrangements for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee; enabling approved pharmacists to discount patient co-payments by a maximum of $1 for each PBS supply on a prescription; extending safety net early supply rules; and extending the pharmacy location rules and the role of the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority to 30 June 2020. Also makes technical amendments.

Part of a package of five bills to create a regime for the prudential regulation of private health insurers, the bill amends the

Private Health Insurance (Collapsed Insurer Levy) Act 2003

to provide for the transfer of responsibility for the administration and collection of the collapsed insurer levy from the Private Health Insurance Administration Council and the Health Minister to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Treasurer.

to: enable the National Joint Replacement Register (NJRR) levy to be imposed on the recording on the NJRR of the provision of a joint replacement prosthesis, rather than for being a sponsor of a joint replacement prosthesis; set a cap of $5000 on the amount of NJRR levy payable for a financial year by a sponsor; and make technical amendments.

Part of a package of five bills to create a regime for the prudential regulation of private health insurers, the bill: transfers the prudential supervisory functions from the Private Health Insurance Administration Council to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA); provides for the registration of private health insurers and prohibits unregistered entities from carrying on a health related business; requires private health insurers to have health benefit funds; provides that APRA approves restructures, mergers, acquisitions and terminations of health benefit funds; empowers APRA to appoint an external manager of a health benefit fund; outlines duties and liabilities of directors; enables APRA to establish prudential standards and to exercise powers under the standards; outlines obligations of private health insurers; provides for the monitoring and investigation of private health insurers; provides that APRA can obtain an enforceable undertaking from a person in connection with a matter in relation to which APRA has a power or function; provides that APRA may seek remedies for a contravention of an enforceable obligation; provides for the Administrative Review Tribunal to review decisions made by APRA; and sets out matters in relation to approvals, determinations and rules.

Part of a package of five bills to create a regime for the prudential regulation of private health insurers, the bill provides for the imposition of an annual supervisory levy (from the 2016-17 financial year) on bodies registered as private health insurers to recover the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s costs incurred in regulating that industry.

to: adjust the required GWh of renewable source electricity in each year from 2016 to 2030 with a GWh target of 33000 GWH in 2020; and replace the current partial exemption for electricity used in emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities with a full exemption;

Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000

and

Climate Change Authority Act 2011

to remove the requirement for the Climate Change Authority to undertake biennial reviews on the operation of the